Oat Grain Quality Consortium

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:13): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister tell the chamber about SARDI involvement in the recently announced Oat Grain Quality Consortium?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:14): I thank the honourable member for his question. I have spoken many times in this chamber about the incredible research done by SARDI (the South Australian Research and Development Institute), work that informs important decisions for both government and industry, enhances our knowledge and paves the way forward for what our agriculture, fishing and, indeed, many other sectors look like for generations to come.

With Australia producing 1.5 million tonnes of oat grain per year, which is equivalent to $480 million annual gross value of production, and with demand for Australian oat products doubling since 2017 and forecast to continue with strong growth, the importance of this sector to our state and to the nation is plainly obvious.

I am, therefore, proud to be able to talk about the expertise that SARDI will bring to another important project that has been announced recently, the Oat Grain Quality Consortium (OGQC). The OGQC announced by the GRDC last month will be led by SARDI and will bring together key research and industry partners to drive the transformation of the industry.

SARDI will be joined by Curtin University, Murdoch University, Edith Cowan University, Agriculture Victoria, Shaanxi Normal University and industry partners, project co-leader InterGrain, Unigrain, Wide Open Agriculture, Fancy Plants, Oatly, Sanitarium, Uncle Tobys, Blue Lake Milling, Quaker, Noumi, Seamild, Grains Australia and the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre.

The program will see more than $12½ million over five years invested, with the GRDC providing $5.75 million and industry and research partners contributing $6.7 million. With global demand for oat-based products on the rise, the OGQC provides an opportunity to benefit the entire Australian oat supply chain, with a focus on improved efficiency and reduction of costs, while looking at ways that the range of oat-based products can expand.

SARDI researchers will work with key industry players, looking at ways that industry can maximise flavour and aroma, better glucan and protein content, and work to find ways to develop new oat varieties that can be produced to high value, end-use market requirements. The opportunities seem boundless and are truly exciting for growers, processors and research institutes like our own in SARDI. SARDI's program leader for crop and pasture improvement, Dr Janine Croser, told the media:

Enhancing shelf life and milling efficiency may open new avenues for Australian oats in global markets—something that SARDI will be exploring intently in conjunction with our industry consultative committee and research partners.

Over the next few years, I look forward to hearing more about this project and maybe even tasting some of the new innovations that may come out of it.